Glenoid extension block

ABSTRACT

A glenoid implant has an anatomically formed body including of metal and/or plastic materials. It further has a contact surface adapted to extend the surface of a glenoid and to bear a humerus. In the implant body, there is at least one hole with a screw head seating area for holding the head of a screw, which may be screwed into a glenoid for fixedly attaching the glenoid implant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/777,782, filed Feb. 26, 2013, which claims priority to pending European Application No. 12157196.2, filed on Feb. 27, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an implant for increasing stability of the shoulder and specifically in the treatment of anterior shoulder instability.

2. Description of Relevant Art

Fractures of the anterior glenoid may be caused by anterior shoulder dislocation. Such fractures, also known as Bankart lesion lead to continuing shoulder instability. WO 2008/015670 A2 and EP 2 135 566 A1 disclose instruments and methods for repairing such a fracture by fixing a coracoid graft to the glenoid. Here harvesting, shaping, drilling and shuttling require a significant amount of time and specific skills of the surgeon. Cup shaped and ball shaped joint prosthesis are disclosed in EP 1 815 825 Al, EP 1 510 190 A1, FR 2825 263 A1, FR 2 843 293 A1 and FR 2 578 162 A1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments are based on the object of simplifying the repair of a fractured/degenerated anterior glenoid and to offer the surgeon reliable tools for repairing such fractures/degenerations.

Solutions of the problem are described in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to further improvements of the invention.

The glenoid implant is an anatomically shaped body. It is not a full joint. Instead, it is an extension to an existing joint, specifically the glenoid. Its size is only a part of the size of the glenoid. It may include metal and/or plastic materials. It may furthermore include a metal like titanium, stainless steel or a plastic material like PEEK. It may also include any combination of such materials. The glenoid implant provides means for attachment to a glenoid. Attachment may be done by screws or other fixation means. The glenoid implant has a contact surface adapted to extend the surface of the glenoid and to bear the Humerus head or at least part of it. The contact surface is roughly planar or with a slight curvature. It is neither ball shaped nor cup shaped, as a full joint prosthesis may be. Preferably, the glenoid implant has no direct contact to the articulated areas of the joint.

The main advantage of this implant over the prior art is that the time and effort needed for harvesting, shaping and drilling can be saved. Furthermore, it can be placed and fixed more easily. Failure of the autograft like breakage or resorption during and after fixation are not likely to occur as in the prior art. Compared to joint prosthesis known from prior art, it is not necessary to remove the whole cartilage surface.

Preferably, the body of the glenoid implant is roughly cuboidal shaped and the contact surface may be a recess in a top surface of the implant.

It is furthermore preferred, if the body of the glenoid implant has rounded edges.

In a further preferred embodiment, the glenoid implant has at least one hole for inserting a screw to attach the glenoid implant to the glenoid. The hole preferably has a screw head seating area and preferably allows the screw to be mounted in a predetermined range of angles. Most preferably there are two holes.

In a further embodiment, there is at least one means for holding the implant by a tool. This tool may be a handle. Preferably, the means for holding is a hole, which may have non-circular shape to prevent rotation.

Preferably, there is at least one recess between mounting surface and the contact surface. There may any number of such recesses.

Preferably, glenoid implants are available in different sizes adapted to bone sizes and sizes of glenoid defects.

Preferably, a kit of glenoid implants includes a choice of different sized implants.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of repairing a fractured and/or degenerated anterior glenoid. In a first step, fractured particles are removed from the glenoid or in the case of a degenerated glenoid, the bone to implant contact surface is refreshed. In the same time or in the following step a mounting surface is generated at the glenoid, preferably by using a shaver and/or osteotome. In the next step, an appropriate size of glenoid implant is selected. Then the selected glenoid implant is positioned at the glenoid, preferably by using an implant-holding tool. In the next step, the location of the holes to be drilled into the glenoid may be marked. Alternatively, the holes may be drilled directly by using the glenoid implant as drilling jig. Then the screws are screwed into the holes. As a further alternative, the screws may be inserted without drilling or preliminary fixed wires. Some steps like selecting the size of the implant may be exchanged in the order with other steps without affecting the result of the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the glenoid implant.

FIG. 2 shows a slightly modified design of the glenoid implant.

FIG. 3 shows a cutout view of the implant.

FIG. 4 shows the implant attached to a holding tool.

FIG. 5 shows the implant 10 attached to the glenoid 50.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of an implant screwed to a glenoid.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment is shown. The glenoid implant 10 has a mounting surface 11 by which it is attached to the glenoid. Mounting surface 11 may have a 3-dimensional structure contacting the glenoid to enhance bone ingrowth. The glenoid implant preferably has cuboidal shape. Although it may have any other shape as long as it allows fixation to the glenoid and adaption to the glenoid surface. There may be a rear surface 12 opposed to the mounting surface. The top surface 14 may have a recess serving as contact surface 20 adapted to the surface form of the glenoid 50 and to interface with the humerus head. Opposed to the top surface is a bottom surface 13. There are a first sidewall 15 and a second sidewall 16 which are preferably rounded. In the sidewall 15 there is a hole 23, which may be used to align the implant with at lest one guide pin, which has previously been placed in the bone. Furthermore, such a hole may be used by a handle for holding the implant. Two holes 21, 22 are protruding the glenoid implant from mounting surface to rear surface. They have an inner shape providing a screw head seating area for holding the head of a screw 40. They preferably allow orientation of the screw in a predetermined range of angles to provide flexibility in mounting.

FIG. 2 shows a slightly modified design of the glenoid implant. Here the sidewalls 15, 16 are not rounded. Furthermore a screw 40 is inserted through hole 22. This screw is preferably a self-cutting screw. Between the mounting surface 11 and the contact surface 20 there are three recesses 17, 18, 19 through which suture anchors may be applied into the bone. There may any number of such recesses.

FIG. 3 shows a cutout view of the glenoid implant. This figure further shows a typical configuration of the holes 21, 22 for holding the screw 40. Furthermore, the protrusions 29 for improving fixation of the implant to the bone are shown in a side view. There is preferably at least one such protrusion and most preferably there is a plurality of such protrusions.

In FIG. 4, the implant 10 is shown attached to a holding tool 30. This holding tool includes a handle 31 attached to a shaft 32. The shaft has an end which fits into hole 23 of the implant. The surgeon may hold the implant at a selected location at the glenoid when drilling the screw holes and/or inserting the screws.

FIG. 5 shows the implant 10 attached to a side of the glenoid 50. It only extends the glenoid and does not replace it.

In FIG. 6, a cross-section of the glenoid 50 is shown with a cross-section of the implant 10 attached thereto by means of the screw 40.

It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide a joint implant. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of repairing a fractured or degenerated anterior glenoid by implanting the glenoid implant of claim 1, comprising the steps of: (a) removing fractured particles from the glenoid or, in the case of a degenerated glenoid, refreshing the bone to implant contact surface; (b) generating a mounting surface at the glenoid; (c) selecting the glenoid implant having an appropriate size; (d) positioning the selected glenoid implant at the glenoid; and (e) advancing screws through the glenoid implant into the glenoid to secure the glenoid implant onto the glenoid.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a mounting surface at the glenoid is performed by using a shaver and/or osteotome.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of positioning the selected glenoid implant at the glenoid is performed by using an implant-holding tool.
 4. The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of predrilling holes in the glenoid for the screws securing the glenoid implant to the glenoid. 